Arrest Warrant: We will get Tompolo - Arase

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, on Friday de­clared that the wanted Niger Delta militant leader, Mr Gov­ernment Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, would be arrested.

A Lagos Federal High Court had issued bench warrant against Tompolo over his re­fusal to make himself available in court on allegation of diver­sion of public funds slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The ex-militant who is fac­ing a 40-count charge, is being tried alongside the ex-Director General of Nigeria Maritime Safety Agency, Mr Patrick Ak­pobolokemi, in connection with the alleged diversion of a sum of N45.9 billion in the ex­ecution of contracts.

Fielding questions from reporters during a tour of the Ekiti Command on Friday, the IGP said, “we are looking for Tompolo and my men are on his trail. We will arrest him any­where we sight him,” he said.

On the issue of the warrant of arrest issued against the em­battled secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Dr Tope Aluko, the IGP said that the police have not been served with any arrest warrant.

He said that the Force does not want to get involved in politics adding that if and when such warrant comes, the police would get necessary le­gal advice.

Arase warned against extra-judicial killings, saying these have made the police to incur more litigations and conse­quently starved them of funds.

On the welfare of his men, the IGP added that his admin­istration will provide housing units in all the 36 commands and Abuja , for every rank and file to take ownership of a two-bedroom flat before retire­ment, while scholarship will be offered to officers to get degree certificates.

“I‘m complaining that I have no money to send you for training, why must we now incur more litigations? Because, when I am sued, the Police’s ac­counts will be garnisheed.

“Nigerians are more intel­ligent now. If you infringed on their right, they will go to court and unfortunately the IG will be the person to be sued even while he is not there.

“We must learn how to re­spect the fundamental rights of the citizens. The reason why we normally punish you during extra-judicial offence has been that as trained officers, who carry arms, you owe the re­sponsibility to protect lives and property and that was why you were trained”, he said.